Nina Francine Photography ‘s Gear:
Nikon D750
Nikon D600
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 85mm 1.4G
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 50mm 1.4G
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 50mm 1.8G
Sigma ART 35mm 1.4
Nikon Speedlight SB-910
The Software:
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
Adobe Photoshop
The Qualifications:
MFA Candidate, Fine Art – University of Minnesota 2016-19
Bachelors of Art Degree – University of Minnesota, Morris Studio Art & Art History
Active member of the Professional Photographers of America, Shoot & Share, and The Rising Tide Society.
Gear talk!
I am thankful to have the right equipment to effectively photograph weddings and portraits – assembling my perfect kit has been years in the making! As you can see, I use prime lenses exclusively – I find them to be much sharper than the average zoom lens (and the glass is actually glass, not plastic!) This means that I am always changing my lenses in order to get the perfect focal length, and if I want to zoom in, I have to move myself to where I need to be! I favor Nikon over Canon (I have used both!) for the way Nikon systems render color, and the excellent shadow recovery of the D750 in particular. Have a question about something technical that you see on this page? Feel free to shoot me an email or tweet me!
Although having the correct gear is an incredibly important factor in creating beautiful professional images, the gear doesn’t make the image! Some of my favorite personal photographs have been taken with an iPhones, disposable cameras, Holgas…it’s all about the light! Until you understand how to manipulate light and use your camera in manual mode, an “expensive” camera does not a photographer make!
A word on getting a college education…
Although there are a huge amount of successful and talented photographers out there that did not pursue a college education, I am SO happy that I chose to study art in a higher education setting. Studying the history of painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, photography, and countless other mediums has opened my eyes to a world of creating beautiful images and objects that I would have never had any idea about before. Now, my work has a much richer layer of intent behind it – when I create photographs, I am thinking of the artists before me that may have used a similar technique, I am playing on impressionism or creating an ode to Bauhaus artists or purposefully channeling Richard Avedon.
Choosing to pursue an education in Studio Art & Art History was the right choice for me and I believe that my work is significantly better from the years of critique from peers and professors alike. College isn’t the right choice for everyone, and many can run a successful business and create beautiful images without it – for me, it was a choice I will be thankful I made for the rest of my life.